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	Archdiocese, Group Square off Detroit News June 9, 2011 http://www.detnews.com/article/20110609/LIFESTYLE04/106090399/1041/lifestyle04/Archdiocese--group-square-off Detroit —The Archdiocese of Detroit is warning a group of progressive Catholics of serious violations — including defrocking of priests or deacons — if it carries through plans to celebrate Mass this week at Cobo Center. About 1,500 members of the American Catholic Council are meeting Friday to Sunday to discuss their push for sweeping changes in the church such as allowing priests to marry and increasing the role of women. Archbishop Allen Vigneron is warning that a planned liturgy on Sunday isn't sanctioned by the church "with my permission by law and the good order of the People of God." "This is a serious delict … which may result in dismissal from the clerical state," Vigneron wrote in a letter Friday. The war of words between the group and archdiocese began last fall when Vigneron asked organizers to cancel the conference and they refused. It has since heated up with an exchange of letters, with the archbishop accusing the group of failing to keep the archdiocese appraised of its plans and organizers insisting they have. Janet Hauter, co-chairwoman for the group, said organizers have consulted a lawyer who is familiar with canon law and said her group has been advised that it will be in compliance with church laws. "We are told what we are doing is correct," said Hauter who added that the Mass will include a choir, a brass chorale, organ and piano music. The organization's meeting this week comes as the Catholic Church is facing continued calls for reform in the wake of the priest sexual abuse scandal. Last month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a landmark study by researchers at John Jay College that examined the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church in the United States. The American Catholic Council is calling for changes in the governance of the church and more transparency. In the past 21/2 years, the council has held nationwide "listening sessions" about issues facing the church, including one in March at Marygrove College. "The church is at a crossroads," said Hauter. "(Catholics) are not receiving the level of respect or dialogue with the hierarchy of the church. It's a kind of herald call for the church." The council is expected to approve a 10-point "Catholic Bill of Rights & Responsibilities" which will be presented to the United States Council of Catholic Bishops along with a 40-page letter outlining concerns and goals for the U.S. Catholic Church. The bishops council declined comment Wednesday. Tom Kyle, a parishioner at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Farmington, said he supports many of the ideals of the American Catholic Council, such as allowing former priests who have married to preside over Masses. "It would be a way to get the Eucharist to the people in a declining church," said Kyle, also a founder and the secretary of the Elephants in the Living Room progressive Catholic group. "Priests are dying off faster than they can be replaced." Not everyone agrees. A conservative group, Call to Holiness, is gathering Friday to Sunday at Burton Manor in Livonia to "offer authentic Catholic teaching," rather than the "dissent" at the Cobo conference, according to the Call to Holiness website. Detroit archdiocese spokesman Ned McGrath said church officials asked the Catholic Council to cancel its conference and sent a "note of caution to the clergy and Catholic faithful on the ACC last fall." He contends the group "never asked for the archbishop's permission to celebrate the liturgy, something they should have done." Contact: bwilliams@detnews.com
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